Side Effects of Carac or Efudex

Hi Kathy, what would I do without you!! You've have been such a big help. I did call the Dr. this morning and he's worried that I may be absorbing to much of the medicine. I have to stay off the medicine until Wed then try on 1 arm and see what happens.This could be along process....... How are you doing? Seems like you're taking care all of us, thanks so much for your concern and encouragement when you're also going thru this. I'll keep you posted, Bonnie

My husband will begin using Carac tomorrow and we were wondering what brand of moisterizer does anyone recommend using with the Carac cream?

Hi, I've only been using Carac for 3 days, I'm using Aquaphor which is working well. I ran into stomach problems and have to stop for a few days. Everyone seems to like Vaseline alot. Good luck and this forum has been a life safer for me, everyone is very informative, hope it helps your husband. Bonnie

The vaseline recommendation here was a lifesaver. I didn't need any moisterizer for the first two weeks (21 day, 2xday regiment) but I did during the third week when the skin started to die and crack. Regular moisterizer made things worse - in fact incredibly painful. But vaseline worked great. It would calm things down for most of the day. Then I would scrub off the vaseline with a wet paper towel, apply the Efudex, wait two hours and reapply vaseline, Worked fine.

After I was done with the Efudex it worked a little differently. Vaseline would keep things going for many hours and then I would begin to itch badly. I realized that the itching was when flakes of dead skin were loose enough to move around, irritating the sensitive new skin. At that point I would scrub off the vaseline (and dead skin) with a wet paper towel and reapply the vaseline. Several more hours of relief. I think I am out of the woods now. Thanks to everyone for the help.

Don

Welcome to the breakfast club! Well, we're all using vaseline and/or aquaphor and/or triple antibiotic ointment w/petroleum (vaseline type) base..these have no chemicals that irritate our sensitive skin. WAIT TWO HOURS AFTER APPLYING CARAC OR EFUDEX before putting on the above. Clean/wash w/warm water, not soap. I made this mistake during the first 12 days and it was really bad...just make sure that the area is clean and dry..be sure to remove the vaseline or other product so that it doesn't inhibit the action of the carac/efudex. Good luck...it gets bad and then it gets much better.!!

Hi cybernana. I forgot to add that some posters have been prescribed oral medications for pain and topical medications for soothing. Browse through these posts and you'll find those. Good luck to you.

Good Morning - I just finished my face (I started 9/14 and did the 30 days). I used Lubriderm for awhile but found later that the vaseline was indeed the real answer. Lubridern would soak in and require repeat application every 4-5 hours. The vaseline makes your skin look shiney and a bit more noticable but at week 3 or so, can "being noticable" be any worse ??!!!. Either way, I would wait as long as possible after the Carac application (minimum 2 hours per the Rx) to apply the moisturizer. The Carac actually helps to alleviate the "tight face" you experience after washing your face. There is some itchiness but just to the point that I'd touch the itch, not scratch it (and have a tissue ready to wipe the tip of my finger). Just like the photos at www.topicalchemo.com, my face cleared up to an almost-normal look in about a week. I've just got a few tiny scabs that should be gone in a day or two and then I'll be back to my old, ugly self!!. The Carac treatment has taken the blotchiness out of my cheeks and temples to the point where my friends are saying that I did the treatment for vanity. Ha ha, how wrong could they be??!! I'm glad it's over and look forward to hearing what my doctor has to say at my follow-up appointment.

Hi,
I'm new. I had a SCC taken from the side of my nose over the summer and I just finished 2 weeks of carac. I'll see the dermo in two days. I am so glad I found this site; I have had so many people ask me if I was sure this wasn't an allergic rx, if I was sure I was using it right, etc. to the point that I thought, gosh, what if I ruin my skin with this! My face is soooo raw. It is especially bad where my sunglasses rest, so, I guess the sunscreen
didn't work or rubbed off there. Anyway, it's good to hear that all have experienced the same, so, I guess I'm doing it right. Anyway, I'm encouraged that I won't be scarred forever and it is only temporary and it could be worse. I'm so glad science came up with this.
chrism

I'm at 13 days with 5% Efudex. I had to go recheck the tube when I saw you had .5. Seems strange everyone seems to get about the same reaction no matter which strength they have. In fact, I don't look as bad as some of the pictures. I don't have any redness on my nose or chin. I experimented with some on my arms, neck, chest, ears, and stomach. I have a few isolated spots on my neck, a few tiny spots on my arms, and nothing on the ears or chest yet. I've had many basal cells removed and one squamas. I'm reading all the posts and welcome any comments or questions.

Hello--I am beginning the third week of the Efudex treatment, and while my skin doesn't look great (more like I have German measles!) I am having trouble with stomatitis--sores on the inside of my lips and mouth. Anyone else having this problem?

I am currently using Eucerin creme for moisturizing with pretty good luck, but keeping the Bag Balm and Vaseline handy as well.